Ligand Modulation of the Structures and Magnetic Relaxation in Triangular Dy3 Complexes Based on a Tricompartmental Scaffold

Abstract

AbstractUsing a novel tricompartmental hydrazone ligand, a set of trinuclear Dy3 complexes has been isolated and structurally characterized. Complexes Dy3 ⋅ Cl, Dy3 ⋅ Br, and Dy3 ⋅ ClO4 feature a similar overall topology but different anions (Cl−, Br−, or ClO4−) in combination with exogenous OH− and solvent co‐ligands, which is found to translate into very different magnetic properties. Complex Dy3 ⋅ Cl shows a double relaxation process with fast quantum tunneling of the magnetization, probably related to the structural disorder of μ2‐OH− and μ2‐Cl− co‐ligands. Relaxation of the magnetization is slowed down for Dy3 ⋅ Br and Dy3 ⋅ ClO4, which do not show any structural disorder. In particular, fast quantum tunneling is suppressed in case of Dy3 ⋅ ClO4, resulting in an energy barrier of 341 K and magnetic hysteresis up to 3.5 K; this makes Dy3 ⋅ ClO4 one of the most robust air‐stable trinuclear SMMs. Magneto‐structural relationships of the three complexes are analyzed and rationalized with the help of CASSCF/RASSI‐SO calculations.